Vic Firth American Heritage Drumsticks are sized like the popular American Classic models, but are crafted in maple rather than hickory for greater rebound and flex. This drumstick series gives drummers the feel of their favorite Vic Firth American Classic sticks but with a lighter and more airy sound-especially on cymbals.

AH7AThe AH7A drumstick has a tear drop tip and is great for music with a light touch.

Great Sticks, glad to see Vic giving more maple options, if you're breaking sticks in general, these aren't for you, I play a lot, and and sometimes pretty hard, but never break sticks, even maple, it's all about technique at the end of the day, these sticks are great for having a beefier stick in the hands, but not being weighed down/slowed down by it. If you like these, check out the "SD" American Custom series, even more great maple options. Maple sounds fantastic on the cymbals.

I love these sticks, I like them for their lighter weight and lower volume..but I break a lot of them compared to the cheap hickory sticks I use for practice. I'm not sure if it's because they are maple or if they have quality issues. I have not tried any other brand of maple sticks, but I also found I broke more VF hickory sticks too. I don't consider myself a heavy hitter but not a jazz style player either. I have been playing drums about 5 years (guitar for 30) and am no expert at drums, but I can feel the difference in the VF sticks vs the cheap ones for what that's worth. I can't afford to use them for practice but wish I could.

American Heritage sticks are advertised as having a "lighter, woodier" sound, especially on cymbals, & that's how I use them at quieter gigs. These are the sticks for quiet, jazzy, acoustic & very articulate cymbal sounds, especially when combined with cymbals that aren't too loud. If you play pretty hard, they will break. I love using these at quieter gigs.

The maple sticks are great if you prefer the feel of a normal Vic Firth American Hickory stick, like the size and thickness of a 5b, but like a lighter feel. I personally use the AH5b. It has the girth and feel of a normal 5b, but is a lot lighter, so you play the stick versus the stick playing you. Great stick.